May 31, 2011Dear Sir,I applaud the “Report from the House” written by the RG's Sam Strangeways and Tim Smith which was printed on May 30, 2011. In that report, new MP Marc Bean took up the topic of Independence during the Motion to Adjourn and he suggested that Bermuda's race challenges would disappear once the Island converts to self-determination and gains Independence. His outburst prompted veteran PLP MP Walter Lister to jump onto the Independence bandwagon and he also derided the Governor's contribution to our Parliamentary process, suggesting that a Bermudian Governor could do the job better.Not only do I disagree entirely with their suggestions, but I also can't recall the public ever being ‘charged up' by these topics. However, as a follower of our politics over the past 15 years, I have noticed that these two particular items – of Independence and our UK appointed Governor – always seem to surface when the Government is taking heat from elsewhere. I call this the “politics of diversion” where the “pronouncer” tries their very best to grab a headline in an attempt to get the public's mind off of the real issues in our Island home. Issues like declining employment opportunities, the rising cost of living, increasing and violent crime, an unaccountable education system, increasing healthcare costs, rising public debt etc …I'm sure that the majority of readers are quite wary of such tactics orchestrated by the PLP backbench and most will probably consider their ranting quite comical.What I find more interesting is the recent history of these two MPs. For example, just last year, around this time, then-Senator Marc Bean publicly apologised to his Party for his vocal criticism of their handling of Bermuda's Education system over the previous ten years. Why would one apologise if the evidence supports your criticism? And early this year, MP Lister was seen enjoying the press coverage regarding some land that was being donated and protected in the West End, but he apparently wasn't able to take a stand and vote against the SDO that the PLP Government passed which will desecrate raw land down at Tucker's Point. I call such actions hypocritical and these gentlemen need to stiffen their spines and focus on the issues that count, otherwise no one will take their comments or speeches seriously. Political expedience in one hand and political diversion in the other may keep their hands full, but unfortunately nothing gets done to assist those in our community who are suffering. Bermuda deserves better.ALLAN D. MARSHALL JPOBA MemberSmith's